COGNIZANT CLASSIC

February 27, 2025

Sami Valimaki

PGA National Champion Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Sami, nice round out there today, 63. It's a few off the lead, but you must be pretty happy with that start.

SAMI VALIMAKI: Yeah, of course. Played really solid. Hit maybe two or three bad shots, but just bogey-free, 8-under is really good.

Q. I know you missed the cut here last year in your first time here, but you shot 67 the second round. What did you learn from the golf course last year that you can put into practice this year?

SAMI VALIMAKI: I was expecting it's going to be really firm and tough. Maybe when I was preparing for that one, then makes it a little bit easier with the softer, and then of course you see for the boys shooting before you low numbers, so you're like, I need to keep it going.

Q. Were you surprised to see those low numbers up on the board?

SAMI VALIMAKI: No, I would say yesterday when I played the pro-am late in the evening, it was still the same condition, quite soft, and just kind of need to -- I was thinking the wind is going to pick up a little bit, but it stayed calm.

Q. How would you sum up your season so far? I know you played Farmers and were back in Mexico last week where you played really well last year. How would you sum up the season so far?

SAMI VALIMAKI: Yeah, I would say the Farmers was a really good week, and then even last week I felt like I played good but didn't make those kind of momentum shots on the weekend. I was really high hopes for this week, so it was a good start for that.

Q. What did you do particularly well today?

SAMI VALIMAKI: Ball-striking. Good off the tee and had a lot of chances to make birdies.